Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Siobhan McLoughlin.
Hi Emma, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I believe that drinking wine should be an experience that delights and edifies. My interest and deep passion for natural wine can be attested to growing up in Paris— the food and drink, as well as the adjacent culture of the city buoyed my future endeavors in the scene. While my parents certainly weren’t wine fiends by any stretch, spending my youth in such a city afforded me a more relaxed education and understanding of what it means to imbibe— always for pleasure and always rooted in tradition. The world of natural wine prizes transparency from farm to cellar and beyond: it’s a movement of people who are keen on healthy practices for both the Earth and themselves. This ethos piqued my interest, which led me to work in a small bottle shop in Richmond, Virginia during my senior year of college. Post-grad, I made the switch to a full-time gig at a cocktail bar— but after being furloughed due to the pandemic, diving back into wine and continuing my education in what ways I could from home kept me sane those first few months.
My side hustle in marketing as a copywriter plus my career in hospitality led me to the idea of Glou Glou Girls: a space where drinking and learning about wine could be both joyful and accessible, if not empowering. A community where questions are encouraged and the objective is to enable consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to their wine— sans the confusing jargon and obtuse terms. Curating wine for my friends, honing my writing skills through whimsical, yet informative tasting notes and relevant information, thus guiding my peers on their wine journey was a thrill that became my quarantine bread and butter. I thought to myself, “Why not do this on a bigger scale?” So I took a leap of faith, hired a website designer the next day, then moved to Austin mere weeks later as a way to refresh my horizons and shift my perspective.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
COVID-19 certainly presented challenges. So did moving halfway across the country on a whim, but who doesn’t love the occasional road trip? Texas was the perfect antidote to quarantine. A new city, new culture, and new outlook helped me fully understand my vision for Glou Glou Girls— not to mention the thriving wine community that exists here. As a 24 year old woman, I feel very much a part of a new generation of wine drinkers that care a lot more about the ethics and people behind their wine— not so much about points or rare vintages. For me, what sparks curiosity is who is deftly cultivating the small: black winemakers, Texas winemakers, women in wine, etc. I want those who wish to partake in the culture to feel welcomed and inspired, which makes bumps in the road more navigable when there’s a mission in mind.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I went to school in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia for English literature, which bolstered my love for writing and currently fuels Glou Glou Girls. I’m fortunate to have received an education that allowed me to hone in on my strengths and combine them with my experience in the field: writing about wine is both a pleasure and privilege, in this regard.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Your support means the world. I invite anyone who wishes to learn more about wine or simply treat themselves to some remarkable gems to a Glou Glou Girls subscription. Receive 3 or 6 wines monthly alongside tasting notes, producer information, playlists, recipes, and more. It really is a wine experience that goes beyond a good bottle, shaping the way you think about wine. I’ll also have a small virtual bottle shop at the ready for anyone that wants to explore further.
Pricing:
- $95 monthly, 3 bottles
- $185 monthly, 6 bottles
Contact Info:
- Email: howdy@glouglougirls.com
- Website: glouglougirls.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/glouglougirls
Image Credits
Farrah Fox, Allie Ayers
